South Asian Patients Have More Diabetic Retinopathy

Patients from South Asia, with Type II DM, have more diabetic retinopathy than their European counterparts. A study published in Diabetes Care reports that patients from South Asia have a higher prevalence of diabetic retinopathy, have a higher degree of sight threatening retinopathy and also had a higher prevalence of maculopathy.

Other findings include a higher systolic and diastolic blood pressures, A1C, and total cholesterol. Patients from South Asia also were noted to have been diagnosed at a younger age than their study cohorts.

The study suggests that patients from South Asia may be at higher risk than others for losing vision from diabetes and that closer monitoring and patient education may be indicated.